Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-11-08
Letter from Memphis.

MEsIPHfsa Tenn, Oct 20, 1887 i
Editor Spirit of Jefferson: .....sy-
DEAR SIR Continue to send me
the SPIRIT I look for It every week.
1t brings me near to the old familiar
place which / still call home. am
very much pleased with the South.
and especially Memphis. l am nicely
situated, and havebeen promoted and
reappointed as first-cIass Hospital
Steward from the ist of this month.
Would like to write you full account
of our building, but time presses
The buildings are composed of the
Surgeon house, executive building
in which is the Stewards quarters, up
stairs, and spare rooms; below, re-
ception room, Surgeons office, OPP
Grating room and dispensary; base
ment, a room for broken and wornout
articles, drug room, fuel room and
i boiler room. Next are the wards, two
in number, containing twelve beds
As you enter the door, on the right isl
the dining room. on the left two nurses
rooms, at the end of the ward is the
smoking and, reading room, bath
room, wash room and water closets.
Next in order is the kitchen and laun-
dry building, and above the kitchen
are the store rooms, two-one for
groceries, the other for blankets,
sheets, pillow slips, and other articles
too numerous to mention. The meats
and vegetables are ordered every
morning by telephone, and the groe-
cries the first of every month The
meals are issued every morning to the
cook-dinner, supper and breakfast
for the next morning,-anda strict
account kept of everything. The
grounds are laid out and enclosed
within a neat iron fence. The build
ings, inside and out, are now being
dressed with new and neat coat of
paint. There is no distinction made
between white and colored patients.
The wards are exactly alike, and each
and every man obtains the same
amount of food, care and attention.
The officers and employees are sur
geon, hospital steward, nurse, night
nurse, who acts as watchman alsoi
ambulance driver, engineer, cook and
laundress. Everything Is neat and
kept clean about the building and
grounds. Every morning at sun up
the stars and stripes are flung to The
breeze, and at sunset they are low
cred. The grand old Mississippi river
flows within hundred yards of the
grounds, which gives a pleasant and
delightful view. In front of the hos
pital is park, called the jackson
Mound Park, and on Sunday and one
tor two other evenings in the week
concerts are given. Enough hospital
talk for the present. WiIldweiiupon
the arrival of President and Mrs.
Cleveland briefly.
The President and Mrs. Cleveland
arrived at about 2 o'clock, p NJ, at
the Kansas City depot, or rather where
they were to be transferred to the city,
as there is transfer boat that trans
tfers across the river and near the hos
pital, at about to o'clock, p. NJ.
The noble and majestic steamer Kate
Adams, came up the river all be-
decked with flags and bunting, and q
band discoursing sweet strains of mu-
sic. Her polished decks were crowded
with n select crowd of noble Southern
gentlemen and ladies. The river was
full of small crafts, and amid the
booming of cannon, ringing of bells
and blowing of whistles the President
and his fair lady was escorted to the
city of Memphis, and no eye ever
rested upon a more beautiful scene
streets crowded with handsome gen.
tIemen and fair ladies', all ready and
willing to give their chief magistrate
hearty welcome to their fair South
ern home. The city of Memphis at
night, fireworks, beautiful and neat
in design. The following day, re-
ception and speaking in Court square.
Judge Elliot, of Memphis, introduced
the President, and Immediately after
he had finished speaking he was
stricken down and died on the stand.
While every one was happy death was
lurking near, but he was Immediate
ly taken away without many people
knowing how it terminated. The
President, have heard since, was
telegraphed the sad details the fol-
lowing day. So ends my letter. II
you care TO publish it, make any al
terations you may gee proper, and
correct mistakes. still have warm
place in my heart for Charlestown
and the county of jefferson. NoT I
must close my long letter. Hoping
you are well, remain,
Very respectfully,
r. B. MITCHELL;
HosnitaI Steward. Mhs.